What makes a bar great?

[american trash]

Foosball, dartboard, and drink specials

 

[jpthomas]

Depends on what kind of a crowd you want to attract. I personally hate bars that try to be too trendy and create or maintain a huge line outside to create the impression that it is cool/trendy/hip/popular.

Things I like:

Lots of seating
Drink specials
Outdoor areas
Music, but not so loud that you can't hold a conversation
Tv's, pooltables, foosball (but only in sportsbars)
Did I mention drink specials?

Things I don't like:

Lines
Cover charges - if you charge me $10 at the door to get in, that is $10 less I am going to spend on drinks. And I will probably not be coming back.
Very loud music

You determine the type of crowd you want to draw depending on (1) drink pricing, (2) type of music, if any, and (3) location, name, and atmosphere.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: american trash
Foosball, dartboard, and drink specials

Funny that you posted in this thread. There's a bar called American Trash down the street from me.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: ironwing
Smoking, no TV sets, music volume that doesn't blow your eardrums out, no drunks, smoking, free sodas for the designated driver, good food at cheap prices (subsidized by the cost of drinks), and smoking, music that is dancible. Then again I might be getting old.

Fixed!

If you don't agree then you should make two sections of the bar, equipped equally.
I'm sick and tired of the nazi-non-smoking bars.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: ironwing
Smoking, no TV sets, music volume that doesn't blow your eardrums out, no drunks, smoking, free sodas for the designated driver, good food at cheap prices (subsidized by the cost of drinks), and smoking, music that is dancible. Then again I might be getting old.

Fixed!

If you don't agree then you should make two sections of the bar, equipped equally.
I'm sick and tired of the nazi-non-smoking bars.

I like bars with smoking patios. I personally think it's the best compromise.

 

[meltdown75]

depends largely on who you ask

i prefer a pub-style bar, with lots of beers on tap. i like my sports too so i enjoy large TVs with either games or highlights. pizza and wings too please.

see, basically i'm describing my favourite bar

we don't go clubbing much, those bars are downtown.

 

[trmiv]

For me it's when everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.

 

[733SHiFTY]

hot chicks and free beer.

 

[mercanucaribe]

The ambience. People would rather be in a nice bar than some crappy place with white tile floors and crappy card tables.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
The ambience. People would rather be in a nice bar than some crappy place with white tile floors and crappy card tables.

Not really. Some of the best bars are dives.

 

[JinLien]

Ambience, hot looking/friendly/smiling female bartenders/waitresses/hostesses, free non alcoholic drinks for designated drivers, free bus ride to/from bars within 5 miles, good finger foods, and the most important after the chicks are good brews from the bar itself. The owner also makes good impression with the patrons by appearing nightly to ask the customers if they are enjoying themselves & what the bar can do to improve the quality of service.

 

[LordNoob]

Cool drink specials, happy hour, good selection on tap, sat/sun miller light pitcher specials for watching sports (yes this means tvs) SMOKING HAS TO BE ALLOWED..., hot wait staff, good food, kitchen open until close... and the bathrooms can't be terrible.

 

[ahurtt]

Bewbies

 

[eakers]

depends on the kind of bar.

college student bar = pool tables, loud music, cheap drinks
pub = good food, decent prices, soccer on the tv
sports bar = good food, decent prices, football on the tv

CLEAN BATHROOMS

all the bars, clubs, restaurants here are non-smoking and I really like it but if you don't have that law then you have to have smoking.

 

[PHiuR]

hot bartender
cheap beer
nice environment.

 

[JinLien]

What qualities differentiate your bar from the other surrounding watering hole?

 

[myusername]

Of note: The OP is in NY - He cannot have a smoking area even if he wishes. (Excepting outside)

 

[isasir]

Will this bar be on Long Island? If so, where? I'd love to support a fellow ATer (especially if you take the advice of people here )

As for my answer, if you're doing a local bar (and not a bar in NYC), then free rounds are always great. A great happy hour with good specials is good. A bartender that makes strong drinks has me coming back for more as well.

TVs are good for local bars, but not for a bar that you want to be upscale.

If you can figure out a way to get hot women to come to the bar, then the guys will follow.

 

[Lonyo]

Cheap alcohol.

 

People, location, size and jukebox music selection.

 

[silverpig]

Depends on what you want. I think the biggest suggestion is to try for one image and go for it. Mixing tvs for sports with an intimate setting, having live music, a dance floor, pool tables, loud music, quiet music, and different themed nights sucks.

I just fell in love with a little place I recently discovered by pure random chance while on a date with a girl. It's a very intimate little place, fireplace, small stage, live jazz/blues music, small bar, lowly lit, lots of opportunities to have a quiet little corner to yourself, but also to be able to turn around and talk with some new people in a group. There should be one main focus in the bar, a REASON to go there.

Maybe charge a *little* more for drinks, and have cheap (but GOOD) food. Live music >> playing music. Open mic nights are bad. Be extra good to people, and try to develop a regular scene.

 

[Lyfer]

Salted Peanuts FTW.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Best bars are just places to relax, hang out with friends, drink, smoke a cigar if you like em, shoot some pool, and perhaps play some obselete video games.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Good bar ==

good prices
good staff
good times
good music (but not so damned load you can't think.

Originally posted by: UDT89
Well i finally found the backing to purchase a bar in my area.

We're going to be purchasing an already existing bar but we will definitely renovate. My partner is a contractor and wont have any problems getting a loan for us to do so after the purchase. Another benefit is we'll be doing everything at cost, so it works out well.

Anyway....

I've been working in bars for the last 4-5 years, and have pretty much seen it all. I was just curious to see what ATOT thinks makes a bar great.

I personally think it is the owner/bartenders/patrons that made a bar great, no so much the music or drink selection. Most places I liked was due to the fact I was surrounded by people that could talk to anyone about anything.

And I guess you could say the ambience has a part in making a bar great too.

What are your opinions?

 

[Cattlegod]

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